US Launches ‘Hawkeye Strike’ in Syria, Hits Dozens of ISIS Targets After Attack on American Troops

The US military on Friday carried out a sweeping series of air strikes against dozens of Islamic State targets across Syria, in retaliation for an attack last weekend near Palmyra that killed three American soldiers, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

The operation, dubbed 'Hawkeye Strike', marked the most extensive US action against ISIS in Syria in several years, and comes amid the thawing of diplomatic ice between Washington and Damascus, after decades of animosity.

According to CENTCOM, US and partner forces struck around 70 targets linked to ISIS infrastructure, command nodes and weapons sites.

The strikes began at about 4:00 pm ET and focused largely on northeastern Syria near Deir ez-Zur, close to the Iraqi border, as well as areas around Raqqa in the north and Homs in central Syria.

President Donald Trump said he personally ordered the operation and called the attack, a decisive response to the attack on US forces.

Speaking at an event in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, he said he had "ordered a massive strike on the terrorists that killed our three great patriots last week," adding that the operation was "very successful" and that "every site was hit flawlessly."

The White House, lauding the strikes said that they showcased Trump's commitment to fulfilling his pledge to retaliate against all state enemies.

"President Trump told the world that the United States would retaliate for the killing of our heroes by ISIS in Syria, and he is delivering on that promise," spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement, reports CBS News.

CENTCOM said the operation involved US Air Force F-15 fighter jets, A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, known as "Warthogs," and Apache attack helicopters were deployed in the strike, with more than 100 precision guided munitions employed in the operation.

Additionally, the Jordanian Armed Forces also participated in the operation, and used F-16 fighter crafts, to support the US-led operation.

Since the December 13 attack on US personnel, CENTCOM said Washington and its partner forces conducted 10 operations in Syria and Iraq targeting ISIS, resulting in the deaths or detention of 23 terrorists.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, describing the strikes said they were aimed at "eliminating ISIS fighters, infrastructure and weapons sites," and added, "This is not the beginning of a war- it is a declaration of vengeance."

Trump called the operation "a very serious retaliation on the murderous terrorists" who were involved in the killing of US military personnel.

Stating that the operation had Damascus' backing, he praised his Syrian counterpart Ahmed Al Sharaa and taking to his Truth Social account wrote "The Government of Syria, led by a man who is working very hard to bring Greatness back to Syria."

Adding that Syria had a "bright future" ahead once it's rid of ISIS and other Islamic terror groups, he warned of an overwhelmingly disproportionate response to all terror entities who dared attack any US personnel.

"All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned - YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A."